Thursday, November 13, 2008

Our deepest fear

Posted by Terry McNichols

We have all just witnessed an historic election in our country, and whether you were voting with the winning side or not, we can all agree that the importance of this day has been celebrated throughout the world. I thought this speech by Nelson Mandela fit with both the historical moment and our discussion on fear:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Nelson Mandela - Inaugural Speech 1994
(Photo by NCavillones, shared via Flickr)

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